Tuesday, December 31

La Tavola Marche is excited to invite you to our second ONLINE - LIVE - Cooking Class from our farmhouse & cooking school in Italy on January 5, 2014!

It's more than just watching an episode of a cooking show on television
because this is not only live but interactive! Students will have the
chance to ask questions along the way, plus the class will be
recorded so you'll have access to it whenever you like. (How cool is
that?!) Watch the class on your computer, mobile device or tablet. Once
you are registered for the class you will receive an invitation to the
site, recipes and ingredient lists.

Our online cooking class will run about an hour in duration, covering techniques, tips and three recipes - including a chocolatey Nutella dessert!

Without leaving the comfort of your kitchen, join us in ours!

Here are few photos from our kitchen & the kitchens of those participating from across the globe sent in via Facebook! Thanks to everyone that joined our first class on the 29th of December we had a great time, technical difficulties and all!

The Menu:

Veal Scallopini, Scallopini di Vitello (Note: This dish can be made with veal, chicken, turkey, pork loin or beef - the choice of protein is up to you!)

Potato Cabbage Mash, Lesso di Patate e Cavolo (Note: This is MUCH more than just making mashed potatoes, trust me!)

Chocolate Nutella & Walnut Cake, Torta di Nutella e Noce

Class Details: Sunday the 5th of January 2014

Join La Tavola Marche's FREE Online Live Cooking Class from Italy in two time slots to fit your schedule, depending on your location. Once you are registered for the class you will receive an invitation to the site, recipes and ingredient lists.

Europe: 19:00 CET

Early Broadcast: 1:00PM EST/10:00AM PST

Late Broadcast: 4:00PM EST/1:00PM PST

Sign Up:

Hurry!! The class is open to the first 25 students in each time slot that email to reserve their spot: info@latavolamarche.com

Monday, December 30

This Podcast from Italy we recap 2013, give a behinds the scene chat on
our first online LIVE cooking class & all the kinks along the way.
Jason delves into his trials and tribulations of trying to get his
Italian drivers license!! The song of the week is "La tana de re" by
Adriano Celentano....and apparently someone is NOT in-favor of putting
mustard on mortadella!

Thursday, December 26

I love good comfort
food, chicken noodle soup when your sick, meatloaf and mashed potatoes
that remind me of being a kid, you know the classics. But the longer I
live in Italy, the more I love Italian comfort food and wish I had been
raised on passatelli in brodo, potatoes and cabbage mash or pasta
norcina. Another classic Italian comfort food - stewed lentils with
sausages. Lentils are very Italian and found in many dishes across the
boot, but they are eaten most during the holidays. On New Year's Eve it
is best to eat a few spoonfuls of stewed lentils with your cotechino
to ensure fortune in the coming year! But the best lentils in Italy are
from the tiny mountain top village of Castelluccio di Norcia on the
Marche-Umbria border. The tiny greenish/brown legumes are not only known
for their soft skin & creamy texture, but the beauty of the
fields in May-June when the lentils are in bloom! (Read this past post for photos and more about Norcia.)

In
a heavy bottomed pot on low heat add olive oil and gently sweat the
garlic, celery, carrot and onion with a crack of salt and pepper. Once
the vegetables are soft, turn up the heat a bit adding the sausages.
Cook the sausages on all sides just to get them started.

Add
in the sage leaf (you can add or substitute any herbs you like). Drain
the lentils, then add them to the pot along with the tomatoes. Pour
about 2 cups of stock (or 400 ml) into the pot and bring up to a slow
simmer.

Simmer for 25-30 minutes or until the lentils are tender, adding a little stock if it begins to look too thick.

To finish, adjust seasonings with salt and pepper, fish out the sage and garlic if you like.
Drizzle good extra virgin olive oil and serve with crunchy toasty bread.

It's more than just watching an episode of a cooking show on television because this is not only live but interactive! Students will have the chance to ask questions along the way, plus the class will be recorded so you'll have access to it whenever you like. (How cool is that?!) Watch the class on your computer, mobile device or tablet. Once you are registered for the class you will receive an invitation to the site, recipes and ingredient lists.

Our online cooking class will run about an hour in duration (give or take, its the first one!) and include three winter dishes perfect to serve on New Years Eve or Capodanno!

Sunday, December 15

Snickerdoodles, Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Raisin, Classic Chocolate Chip and...Cornflakes?! Cornflake cookies are an easy to make, not too sweet dessert, perfect not only for the Holidays but any of time year! I had never seen/eaten these before we moved to Italy, though after a quick recipe search they are found all over from the States to Australia.

Friday, December 13

This week we interview Marco Candi from Marco's Way Wine
Tours in Le Marche, Italy. We ask him about the different varieties of
grapes found here, the future of organic wine and much more! We also
discuss the rising costs of living in Italy from gpl (heat), milk and
even the garbage tax! The song of the week is a classic festive choice -
Thanks for listening & Happy Holidays!!

Sunday, December 8

A 35 second film (shot on an iPad) of my favorite part of the day - letting the chickens out of their coop! This winter, I'm editing short clips we've filmed of our day (from the market, garden, guests & cooking classes) to bring you a fun web series "Life at La Tavola Marche"! This is our first episode and we hope you enjoy a slice of life from our farm in Le Marche, Italy!

Wednesday, December 4

This week's podcast we share an all to familiar story of country living -
problems with water! A recap of our lunch at Beltrami's for the
unearthing of his famous formaggio di fossa (more photos on Facebook) and it snow's in time for
Thanksgiving! Our immigration saga continues as we renew our paperwork
for next year just as boxes of fluffy panetone show up in stores across Italy.
We answer your questions about moving to Italy - how to pack and our three very important tips
for finding an agriturismo or rural farmhouse.

This week's song of the week: Buona Sera Signorina by Fred Buscaglione

Monday, December 2

We always say, it's the little surprises throughout the day that remind us that we live in Italy. You can never have a set schedule or even menu because you just never know what may happen or unexpected adventure will unfold on any given day. People pop-in, plans change quickly...Today is no different. We were just running into town to pick up milk and the newspaper for Dr. Gaggi. The plan was to have a nice simple dinner of cabbage soup (since Jason seems to have a knack for growing massive cabbage & the garden is still full of them). As we arrived at Gaggi's country house, we passed a pheasant on his drive-away and Jason slammed on the brakes. "Dinner," he said a bit too matter of factly for a guy without a gun.

Jason alerted the Doctor and minutes later Gaggi came charging out the front door with Tom his hunting dog by his side. This was a man on a mission. A single shot was fired and Jason returned with wild pheasant for dinner. But before we could leave Gaggi wanted to thank us for picking up the newspaper. Wrapped haphazardly in white paper towel, he handed me the most fragrant white truffle I have seen/smelled all season! "Buona cena" Gaggi smiled as he closed the car door and we headed home.

"Well, I guess we'll save the soup for another night and I'll edit/post the podcast later because now I've got a pheasant to clean and cook!" Jason said with the car full of the musty earthy smells of the truffle.

"Ohhhh and tagliatelle con tartufi, looks like you're also making fresh pasta when we get home, grazie mille!!" I was thrilled, dinner's gonna be good tonight!